Murders case officer accused of conspiracy

The detective who was liaison officer to the family of Soham murder victim Jessica Chapman, and a Crown Prosecution Service worker, will appear in court next week charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The detective who was liaison officer to the family of Soham murder victim Jessica Chapman, and a Crown Prosecution Service worker, will appear in court next week charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Detective Constable Brian Stevens, 42, and 32-year-old Louise Austin, an administrator with the CPS, are due at Bedford magistrates' court, on Tuesday, September 16.

The pair, both from the Cambridge area, were arrested yesterday. They have been released on police bail.

Stevens had previously been arrested and charged with child sex and computer pornography offences, but the case against him collapsed at Snaresbrook Crown Court, in London, last month.

West Midlands Police said in a statement: "Brian Stevens has been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice which is contrary to the Criminal Law Act of 1977. He will appear before a magistrates' court on Tuesday, September 16."

The statement added: "Louise Austin has also been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice."

A spokeswoman for the West Midlands Police force confirmed that Austin was also due to attend Bedford magistrates' court on the same day.